Good morning, siestas. Today is the day my Curtis comes home and I want to thank you for praying for us. I know he had a very powerful experience in India and I can’t wait to hear all the details. I’m sure he will want to share his experience with you, too. Jackson and I did great. We had one 48 hour stretch that was pretty tough, but other than that we did better than I thought we would. God was faithful to meet our needs every day.
I also want to share something that I wrote yesterday. Up until a few days ago we were one of the families with a missing loved one from the Galveston area. Praise God, our loved one has been found. Then I had a dream two nights ago that I was one of the people who didn’t evacuate the island in time for Hurricane Ike and it was so upsetting. God used those things to burn this on my heart.
The National Weather Center issued the stern warning to those living on the coast: “Those living in one or two-story single family homes must evacuate or face certain death.” It was debated whether the wording was too dramatic. For some, maybe it was, but the words were sadly appropriate for what may amount to hundreds of others. Unbelievably large numbers of people did not heed the warning. They wanted to stay with their homes and be able to protect their belongings after the storm. What they didn’t consider was that there would be nothing left to save, regardless of their presence. The hurricane would not make landfall until Saturday, but they didn’t plan on the storm surge reaching the coast as early as Friday afternoon. With the sun still shining, the gulf waters began overtaking Bolivar Peninsula, making a last minute evacuation impossible for hundreds of people. They drank in the sight of water covering the roadways and were forced to swallow the bitter pills of regret and dread. They called for help, but only a fraction could be rescued before the winds became too strong for the helicopters. They called their loved ones and said, “I made a mistake. I’m really in trouble here.” They were helpless. And their loved ones are left traumatized. Emergency operators would receive countless calls for help during the storm. They would not be able to offer any hope. It was too late. In complete and utter darkness, people were swept to sea in their own homes. Their broken, swollen bodies are currently being recovered all along the coast amid debris, alligators, water moccasins, and swarms of mosquitoes. The Houston Chronicle reports that hundreds of people are unaccounted for. You can go to their web site and search the names and faces of missing fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sons and daughters. It is horrifying.
In the midst of this, while many in this region remain mercifully unaware due to lack of power and/or cable TV, our country is on the verge of financial disaster. And while the coast is still cleaning up, we will elect a new president and proceed to change administrations in the middle of a war. Simply put, it is all very scary.
People, look around and see that the storm surge of Hell is rising around us. It is lapping at the Sea Wall. It is beginning to flood the only road off the island. We stand on the decks of our fancy beach homes built on sand and watch the water rising, submerging the pillars we trusted to keep us safe. We’ve already been warned of disaster. Scripture says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Our sin – the thing inside us that makes us do wrong – has earned us spiritual death, an eternity apart from God. Indeed, an eternity in hell. The hell on earth around us now is only a shadow of what is to come when we will reap the terrible harvest of the sin we sowed on this earth. It is a dire message. A terrible thing to have to hear. But true.
My friends, the good news is that we still have time to call the Emergency Operator and ask to be saved. While the Bible says that we deserve death, it also says “But the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We can call upon Jesus to save us – from ourselves and from the unquenchable fire of hell that is eager to overtake us all. There is a way out, but there is only one way. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Call on Jesus.
“Therefore [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:25-26)
Jesus made a way for us to be saved when He came to earth and lived a perfect life. He was fully man and at the same time fully God. He was completely without sin. He laid down His life for us while we were still doing everything wrong and spitting in His face. He loved us that much. He was tortured, then nailed to a cross and died. On that cross He bore the wrath of God for all of humanity’s sin. He suffered and died in our place.
He was resurrected on the third day and appeared to many men. This is one of the most well documented facts in history. All of time revolves around His resurrection. At this moment He sits on a throne in Heaven next to God. He waits for us to call upon Him for salvation, to surrender our lives to Him, to put our hope and trust in Him. Romans 10:9-12 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'” He waits with open arms for the Saved, the Forgiven, the Rescued to enter into the splendor of an eternity with Him. There, the foundation is solid and there is no fear. There is only joy and the fulfillment of every need of your immortal soul in the presence of the One who created you.
Just like the hundreds of people who died needlessly when they did not heed the evacuation orders on the coast, we will suffer in hell needlessly if we do not take Jesus Christ up on His offer of salvation. What? You think you don’t deserve to be rescued? Well no one does. It is all by grace, no matter how “good” you seemed or how “bad” you were. What? You want to stay in your house and protect all that you’ve gathered for yourself on this earth? It will all be destroyed anyway. What? Your husband won’t go with you? You’d rather stay behind with him and ride it out? How foolish. Take your children and go. Call upon His name before it is too late.
Hurricane Hell is in the gulf. It is churning. It will certainly make landfall for each of us, but we are not given a forecast. We do not know when it will hit, but we do know that it brings with it “certain death.” Will we say the warning is too stern? Or will we call upon the Savior and be rescued?
Thank you so much for the post today. With all the uncertainty in our world today, Our Father is waiting for his children to turn to him!
Amanda you have such a wonderful insight and gift with words. Thanks for keeping us siesta’s posted and I am glad you found your loved one.
Take care,
Lichelle
Excellent. A well-written and powerful metaphor for the lost ones around us. I think I will share this with my h.s. small group tonight. I’m thankful we can cast our cares on Him in such a troubling, troublng time in our nation. I’m not sure how I’d cope otherwise.
Wow! Well done. Amen!
Amanda
Wow! Powerful stuff, girl! That was a word! Straight from our Lord!
Thank you!
I pray for all affected by the hurricane Ike…..and hurricane hell!
God save them all!
Thank You! These are words that I will print and give to my friend who keeps waiting until he changes some things before he accepts Christ. Surely they will speak to him – before the storm hits.
Wonderful, Amanda. What a fantastic (and tragic) picture of what is to come. It’s amazing that God would give us so many warnings, and so many simply would not see them.
Gwenn
What a powerful message…thanks Amanda. I had no idea how bad it was there…haven’t seen anything on our news lately. There is much to bring before the throne….you could also add the election in Canada in two weeks to that list. One other quick request… pray for a dear family in Alberta who’s 14 year old daughter Emily was randomly murdered last weekend. Her dad is the pastor at the Fellowship Baptist church in their town of 8000….just devastating. Thanks again for your post.
Thank you so much for not tiptoeing around this. Too many people spend so much time afraid they’ll offend these days and it’s time we don’t have.
Amanda,
What a powerful and well-written post. Thank you for taking the time to put this in writing. I am praying for many to see it, read it, consider its message, and turn to Jesus.
Please pray for your siestas in Atlanta as we are working harder than ever to get the Message of Jesus to the women of our area through the Atlanta Encounter. (Church4Chicks.com)
Blessings to you all at LPM~
Shelley
Amanda Awesome! I love the way you worded it about Hell and Hurricanes. Praise God that ya’ll found your loved ones. Welcome Back Curtis.
We all have loved ones that need to be saved and delivered. I am asking for everyone’s prayers for My Sisters Daughter who is pregnant and unmarried. She took off and my Sister is devastated. Pray that the Lord will direct Her to go back home so my Sister can help her with Her child and That the whole family has a Road of Damacus encounter. I also pray for everyone that lost that God will open their eyes of understanding.
I love ya’ll and Thank You !
Amanda,
This is a powerful message that everyone, believer or nonbeliever, needs to hear. Even those of us who have called upon the name of the Lord to be saved need to be reminded that He is our ultimate rescuer, and that even when trials or storms come, our eternity lies in His assurance, not in any earthly power- natural, political, or financial.
I have forwarded on the link to today’s entry to many of my friends and family, both believers and non, and I believe it will have an impact, as the word never goes out and returns void.
Blessings upon you for sharing this sobering yet encouraging meditation with us all.
In Christ,
Nicole
Amen! What a powerful message. Thank you. I pray we will be on our knees in surrender and submission to Him.
Amanda,
I tried to leave a comment before via another blog, but it didn’t happen, so let’s try again.
I love what you wrote! And I can understand it:)
I will send you a poem I wrote hours before Hurricane Charlie hit….
Its a traumatizing experience, and God helps us to remember that He is our rescuer:)
In so many storms…
” Came to my rescue”
by Hillsong..
totally is the background song to this:)
Be Blessed:)
ang
Sweet Amanda, Thank you for your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit in proclaiming this somber message. You have preached the Word this morning. I pray that I also will be faithful to sound the warning to those who are still without Christ. We certainly are in perilous days. Love, Dee
thank you for being clear, concise, truthful, AJ. I work with drug addicts and other severely broken people. It is often the case that they are more receptive of a Rescuer — they know that there is no hope, and when they meet Christ, the transformation is wonderful. Here, in OR, it’s the successful, the “good,” the have-it-easy’s — that just refuse to see the surge of the waves and the reality of disaster. I pray that many will read this post, and put their faith in the Only One who can Redeem — Jesus is just the Best!!
Beverly, in OR
Wow! What a powerful way to look at our salvation or the lack there of. When you look at what all those folks are going through, it makes my trials seem so trivial. We are living in very scary times. But, no matter what meterological or financial disaster might come, I know that my Savior lives and will be with me in it all and through it all!
Praise the Lord your man is coming home healthy, safe, and full from his (I’m sure) amazing time in India! I was praying for you and your family!
Your post was very powerful! I know so many unsaved ones that need to read it, and even those I don’t know should read it. I pray we will see such precious ones to us and Him come to salvation!
We love you Lord! Thank you that you made a way that we could eternally be saved from the hurricane of hell!
Much love!
Kristi B.
I appreciate what you have written. My family and I are in the middle of a nasty storm right now. My first reaction is that we are being punished that comes form my early upbringing but the real question for me is: How does salvation apply to life? I know one day I will be in heaven and hope my children and husband willbe there as well. But, how does that make my situation better hereon earth. It has been a long season of hurt and distress.
WOW! Amanda, you’re a truly amazing young lady with gifts only our awesome God can give. Thank you for this post today–and sharing your gifts with us.
Prayers for safe travel for Curtis and his fellow travelers!
Amanda,
God has spoken. I am copying your words and sending them to someone who has turned her back for too long. Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit and obeying, now I will do the same.
Forever His,
Lawan Rivera
Phil 4:8
What a great word for today. Thank you for sharing. We really do have to be awake to what is going on around us and realize who we must call on for help. God Bless!
Amanda Jones! Preach it girl!
Seriously, you are right on and thank you for using the analogy of the recent devastation so many people experienced and are still experiencing in Texas to the eternal devastation in hell that people will experience if they don’t accept the Lord’s grace and mercy and eternal life with Him! All that you said gave me a visual and it makes me more anxious to tell others about Jesus. I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t witness nearly enough to the lost and your message convicted me to do more of that. Thanks!
Love and prayers,
Missy in SC
p.s. Glad your mom is coming home! 🙂
Amanda,
I am new to the LPM blog and just read this post. How powerful!
The post, the storm, the hurricane, the future that lies before us.
I know as people read this post, lives WILL be saved. There are those who WILL heed the warning and unfortuantely those who won’t.
I will be praying today as many read these words that their hearts are stirred toward change and the angels will be rejoicing in heaven over new sisters and brothers in Christ.
Blessings to you and your ministry.
Can I get an Amen
Wow Amanda, this is so true. I remember the night I watched a group of men on the news laughing at the warnings to evaculate. They just didn’t believe it could happen to them – somehow they were exempt.
I too wrote a similar post back on September 13th entitled, “The Eye of the Storm”. When warnings are adhered to, lives are spared. There will one day be a sudden evacuation from earth, yet a decision today could ensure safe harbour for eternity.
Great reminder!
Blessings,
Joy
What a great way to put Salvation into words everyone can relate to! Thank you for using your gift of words to share the message!
AND so happy Curtis is on his way home to you!
Amanda,
I am thankful you followed the prompting of God’s Spirit and shared this powerful insight. I pray God would use this inspired message to bring lost people to Him. American’s are drowning in immorality,dishonesty,idolatry, and greed. Oh Dear God, we cry out for You to move mightily upon your people. Forgive us and cleanse us and use us to reach the lost you love. We need you, we are powerless without you. Please make hearts tender and open in this time of loss and fear. We love you,our Lord.
AMEN Amanda! Your ‘Good Stock’ is showing. You and your mother are a delight to me! To our ABBA be ALL the glory!!
So glad Curtis will be home today!
Sweet Blessings,
Kathie T.
Amen and amen.
Amanda,
That was an amazing and thought provoking post. Believer or not, it gives everyone something to seriously consider. Thank you for sharing it.
Would it be ok to put a link to this post on my own blog? I think this is an incredibly powerful post and would love to share it.
WHEW!! You GO GIRL!!! AMEN AND AMEN!!
that was amazingly written, you are so gifted. thanks for sharing it with all of us. have a wonderful, blessed day!
shana from minnesota
Inspired WORDS. I have an 18-year-old who does not know where she would go if she died today. I have done the FAITH outline with her many times. Bless you for your words to us today.
Debbie
South Carolina
Amanda, wow! And amen!
Amanda, have you thought of sending this as a letter to the editor to the newspapers in your region? What a powerful witness it would be to all in the area!
Amen, Amanda! That was so powerfully moving!
Blessings
Michelle
Oh Amanda,
I don’t know what to say, but I’m glad you articulated what my heart could not.
Giving Him Praise today for what He has bestowed on us, and believing Him for the salvation of other loved ones.t
Amen and amen. Let us gather on our knees for the lost in our country, and for our leaders in the midst of these turbulent times. Thank you for bringing the truth sweet sister!
Wow! I hope that this reaches thousands of unsaved across America! Thank you for sharing the Good News of Jesus….without Him or apart from Him we are truly nothing! How great to know that Jesus loves us beyond measure and how overwhelming that He paid my way into heaven to live with Him throughout eternity!
Amen and amen! Terrific “picture” for those of us who are visual learners!
Blessings,
Ginger from Alabama
Great word, we all need to look up and be ready.
In His love,
Cindy
Profound!
Preach on SISTER!
Christina Taylor
What joy for us wo are saved by His sacrifice, that we know we are not swept away into the Hell, but placed with the One who is faithful and true.
Also, what an absolute call to us, the ones who have received His Grace, to find as many, to tell as many, to show His grace, and give it freely.
So many of us realize one or two or ten people we are acquainted with might not be saved, and it is too easy to say “I think I’ll wait until tomorrow to broach that subject.” What if tomorrow is too late? We’ve failed the One who was so merciful to us in our duty to spread the good news to the poor as we are called to in Isaiah 61.
Thank you for your post, and thank you all for your hearts for the LORD!
Stephanie / Mississippi
AMEN! Way to go Amanda, very well written and a wonderful analogy. Thank you for that. So glad Curtis is safe.
Amen sister! Keep bringing it!
Love,
Sandy
WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!
PREACH IT, SISTER! One step down Romans Road and you get me all fired up. You go…
Thank you, LORD, that YOU ARE STILL IN CONTROL and YOU ARE STILL ON THE THRONE!!
Earth is the closest we’ll get to hell and for the nonbeliever…it is the closest they’ll get to HEAVEN. So…
EVERYONE – Pray for God to put someone in your path that wants to hear about HIM!!!
Please pray for Chick Night…It is a large-scale women’s outreach event we host twice a year. It takes every drop of energy for me and the sweet team to produce one of these events (approx. 70 volunteers alone). NEXT ONE IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9.
PRAY for strongholds to be busted and that the Holy Spirit can move freely and MANY FUTURE CHRISTIANS ATTEND AND THEIR LIVES ARE CHANGED FOR ETERNITY!!!
Thank you, thank you…
Evangelism Chick (Susan 😉
Amanda,
Wow! How powerfully put! Amen and Amen!
Amanda,
THANK YOU for sharing that…very powerful! I am going to copy it and send it to my Pastor. What a Blessing you are!
Hope you enjoy the time spent hearing of Curtis’s adventures!
Blessing to you,
GayleAnn
Wasilla, Alaska